Electric clock



F. E. WHITE ELECTRIC CLOCK Dec. 30 .1930.

Filed Dec. 8. 1928 EEJ VhiZ e- Fill/[III] III/1111]],

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT [or-ma I FLOYD a WHITE, or WINAMAO, INDIANA,

ELECTRIC. CLOCK Application aim December s, 1928. Serial 80.324371.

This invention relates to electric clocks,

and more particularly to a clock for electrically signalling a selected time.

An important object of the invention is to 2516 provide an apparatus of this character which may be very readily adjusted to enable the transmission of electric signals and to proand upondiflerent circuits, if so desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be very cheaply produced and very readily installed, and which is especially adapted for use in schools and the like for .1 1 signalling class hours.

These and other obj struction shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my in 1;;20 vention and wherein in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse sec 11.3 tional view therethrough;

greater than the clock case. The arms 13 are slightly offset, so that this disk surrounds the Figure 3 is a detail sectional view showing the stationary element of the switch;

Fi ure 4: is a similar view showing a modified form of the stationary element.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral generally designates a case containing the clockworks which may be of the type usually employed in alarm clocks. To the hour hand staff or shaft 11, I:

secure a sleeve 12 similar to the sleeve usually employed in connecting the hour hand thereto. This sleeve has radiating therefrom a plurality of arms 13, the outer ends of which I are rigidly secured to an annulus 14 which preferably has an internal diameter slightly clock case at the approximate center thereof.

The periphery of this disk is provided with spaced hour indicia 15 and associated with each indicia 15 is a means for attaching to the disk a wire 16. Such means are likewise provided at 'quarter and half hour intervals, as indicated, or in small intervals if de-- sired and in the present instance are disclosed ects I attain by the conas openings 17 formed in. the disk and adapted to receive one end of the wire. The wireemployed is angular, so that its free end portion may project in a'plane parallelin the disk and extend beyond the rim thereo With this mechanism, I provide a suitable base v18 from which, by adjusting screws 19 vide for such signals at a plurality of points 4 and 20, I supporta slightly concave insulating. plate 21, the concavity of the plate exthe bottomof this groove through the disk. The ad usting screws 19 permit alignment of this groove with a desired portion of the periphery of the annulus in such manner that the projecting portions of the wires 16 will pass through'a drop of mercury 24 positioned 1n the groove to establish electrical connec- Figure 1 is a front elevation partially broken away of clock mechanism constructed drops 24 for coaction with these prongs. S1m-1larly,"the prongs may be variously offset from the face of the annulus and by t providing a pluralityyof grooves 22 and mercury drops 24,signals may be given at differp To complete the signalcircuit, a source of current ent'times upon different circuits.

B may be connectedthrough the signal S with the framelO of the clock, a switch 25 belng'preferably provided in the circuit to enable the same to be rendered inoperative at any time. a It will be obvious that with a construction of this character, a very cheap time-controlled electrical signal maybe provided 1 which will be reasonably accurate and which maybe. readily adjusted to correspond to any change in the'signalling time. It will also be obvious that the construction employed is capable of a certain range of change and modification. without materially departing from the spirit of the invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination, a member having a circular periphery having time indicia thereon, a clockworks for rotating the member, a relatively stationary member having a socket formed therein, a conductor extended into said socket, a liquid conductor disposed in the socket and of a character such that it projects above the surface of the member, and an angularly inclined rigid conductor adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member.

2. In combination, a member having a circular periphery having time indiciathereo-n, a clockworks for rotating the member, a relatively stationary member having a socket formed therein, a conductor extended into said socket, a liquid conductor disposed in the socket and of a character such that it projects above the surface of the member,

and an angularly inclined rigid conductor adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member, the relatively stationary member being adjustable circumfertively stationary member having a socket formed therein, a conductor extended into said socket, a liquid conductor disposed in the socket and of a character such that it projects above the surface of the member,

I and an angularly inclined rigid conductor adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member, said rotating member 7 having spaced openings in its periphery, the I conductor carried thereby being angular in form and having an end portion adapted for selective engagement in said openings.

4. In comblnation, a member having a circular periphery having time indicia thereon,

1 clockwork means for rotating the member,

- a'relatively stationary member having a plurality of sockets formed therein, a conductor extending into each socket, a mercury contact in each socket, and angularly inclined rigid conductors adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member having terminal portions for engagement with the mercury contacts of said sockets as the rotatable member is rotated.

5. In combination, a member having a circular periphery having time indicia thereon,

clockwork means for rotating the member,

' a relatively stationary member having a plurality of sockets formed therein, a conductor extending into each socket, a mercury contact in each socket, and angularly inclined rigid conductors adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member having terminal portions for engagement with the mercury contacts of said sockets as the rotatable member is rotated, said relatively stationary member being adjustable toward and away from and circumferentially of the rotatable member.

6. In combination, a member having a circular periphery having time indicia thereon, a clockworks for rotatin the member, a relatively stationary member having sockets formed therein, a conductor extended into each socket, a liquid conductor disposed in the socket and of a character such that it projects above the surface of the member, and a rigid conductor adjustably connectible with the periphery of the rotating member, said rotating member having spaced openings in its periphery, the conductor carried having a plurality of depending conductor engaging members having an end portion adapted for selective engagement in said openings, the relatively stationary member being adjustable circumferentially of and toward and away from the first named member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my 

